Clay Johnson: A Biography
- James Fitch
- May 18
- 1 min read
Images and bio provided by Clay Johnson
Clay Johnson is a classic landscape painter who works primarily in oil. His interests vary widely, and include cityscapes, industrial, agricultural and other human modified spaces, as well as pure nature. His preference is to paint outdoors, directly from nature, for work both large and small. While studio work plays an important part of the process, direct observation is an essential ingredient, as the "eyes-on experience" is what feeds his imagination.
Growing up in the Chicago area, Johnson received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University, and then moved to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, where he lived for many years. Finally settling here in South Carolina, Johnson now paints the rich landscape of the Lowcountry.
"I usually paint on-site in front of nature, with needed adjustments made in the studio. While I am not attempting to document nature or tell a story, working from life does provide a connection and immediate stimulus unavailable to the unaided imagination. Nature is vast, my brain is tiny.”
Follow Clay Johnson on Instagram
Visit the Rice Museum's Prevost Art Gallery to view our current exhibition, "The World of Plein Air Painting." Now on exhibit through May 31st, 2025. The Rice Museum is open from 11 AM – 4 PM, Tuesday to Saturday.